Vogelsong was in the middle of easily his best start of the season when he swung at an inside pitch from Craig Stammen. The ball appeared to hit him squarely on the knuckles of his right hand, and Vogelsong was in obvious pain. He left the game and was replaced by pinch hitter Nick Noonan.

The damage: a dislocated joint in the pinky finger of his pitching hand and breaks above and below the finger. He’ll have surgery today and pins will be inserted. He’s going to be out at least six weeks.

Sadly, this came as Vogelsong was in the midst of his best start of what has been an otherwise awful season, having shut out the Nationals, allowing only three hits in five innings. Now it’s awful again.

Also awful: it looks like Chad Gaudin is the only real option to replace Vogelsong in the rotation. Barring a trade, of course.